2023 Communication Awards
This year’s contest will again feature digital submission for everyone’s convenience. You will be able to submit PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, GIF, PNG, or JPG files, and URLs for online, video or audio content, directly to the online system. The system will also allow you to pay entry fees.
Some categories will require the submission of printed copies. This is in response to a request from membership.
Who Can Enter?
Entries are limited to creative efforts developed by or on behalf of a Tennessee higher education institution or an educational agency. Entries must be submitted by the eligible institution or agency. Entries MUST be from member institutions. Membership is available from our membership page or can be added on via the competition page.
What is Eligible?
There are 34 categories in five categories: advertising, public relations/media relations, writing, publications, electronic and digital media, and overall promotional campaign. Entries must have been published, broadcast, or used for the first time between April 2, 2022, and March 20, 2023. There is no limit to the number of entries an institution may submit within a category. Each entry will be evaluated against others in the same category, and judging will be based on overall creativity of the piece, marketing execution and impact of message. Judges reserve the right to not name a winner if there is only one entry in the category. In some cases, judges may opt to name fewer than three winners per category. To avoid any conflict of interest, entries will be judged by outside advertising, marketing, or public relations professionals.
How Do We Submit?
Please direct any questions to:
Bobbie Maynard
Associate Vice President for Communications & Marketing
Office of Communications & Marketing
Tennessee Tech University
Foundation Hall, Box 5104
242 E. 10th Street, Cookeville, TN 38505
(931) 372-6525
Payment
The fee is $35 per entry (membership is required). Payment of entry fees will be handled within the online submission website. An option for paying by check will also be available. No refunds are available. (Please be sure checks indicate payment for the award competition.)
Winners’ Recognition
Winners will be announced at the TCPRA Statewide Conference Awards ceremony in May. Awards will be presented for 1st, gold; 2nd, silver; and 3rd, bronze. A Best of Show award, the Charles Holmes Award, and the Otis Floyd Jr. Award for Excellence in Administration also will be presented at the ceremony.
Categories
Advertising
A1. Print Advertisement, Single | Present proof of publication for one advertisement from a newspaper, magazine, or similar publication. Upload ad and proof of publication (photo or scan of clip).
A2. Print Advertisement, Series | Present proof of publication for two or more advertisements from a series printed in a newspaper, magazine or similar publication. Upload ads and proof of publication (photo or scan of clips).
A3. Radio Advertisement/PSA | Submit one radio advertisement or PSA of sixty seconds or less. Provide a URL link to the audio file.
A4. Video Advertisement/PSA | Submit one video advertisement or PSA sixty seconds or less. Provide a URL link to the video.
A5. Banners/Outdoor Media | Submit an example of the college’s use of a banner or outdoor media to promote the college or a program. Submit a clear image of the design (PDF, JPG) and a photograph depicting usage. Include a brief statement describing your intended audience, your decision to use this type of promotion, where the banner/outdoor media was placed, and any attempts to measure success.
A6. Specialty Item | Submit one item that has been designed to promote an activity, special event, or the college. This category includes one-time or unique items that may not fit into other categories, i.e. promotional items, specialty CDs, etc. Upload a description, along with photos, of the item. Include a brief description of the intended audience and cost of production. Entrants have the option of mailing physical items to the contest coordinator. Any physical items are in addition to the digital submission.
A7. Digital Ad, Single
A8. Digital Ad, Series
Public Relations/Media Relations
PR1. Media Relations Campaign | Entries should include three components: a brief statement describing your media objectives, strategies developed to meet these objectives, and samples of subsequent media coverage.
PR2. Special Event – Seven Days or Less | This category is for individual activities centered around special occasions, such as anniversaries, inaugurations, homecomings or reunions, international functions, convocations, building dedications, etc. Entry should include a brief statement that describes the planning and execution, cost, and outcome. Entry can also include promotional materials.
PR3. Special Event – More than Seven Days | This category is for multiple activities centered on a theme, such as a fundraising campaign, a campus initiative, etc. Entry should include a brief statement that describes the planning and execution, cost, and outcome. Entry can also include promotional materials.
PR4. Crisis Communications Campaign | This category is for demonstrating how a crisis was successfully managed from a communications perspective. Entry should provide the details of the crisis, communication strategies developed to help mitigate the crisis, and samples of subsequent media coverage.
Writing
W1. News Writing | Submit a copy of a single news release. Include a brief statement describing its distribution and document how the release was picked up by media. That documentation can include scanned clips from printed publications and links to online stories or videos.
W2. Feature Writing | Submit one copy of a single story. Also include proof of publication, such as a scan or photograph of a publication.
W3. Speech/First Person Writing | Submit the text for a single speech or first-person writing (column, letter, etc.). With the submission, briefly describe the purpose of the first-person writing and its target audience.
Publications
In response to member requests, all entrants in the Publications categories have the option of sending printed copies to the awards coordinator; two categories (P2. College/Alumni Magazine, Printed; P3. Reports) require submission of printed copies. Any printed copies are in addition to the digital submission.
P1. Newsletter, Printed | Submit any two consecutive issues of a regularly produced printed newsletter. Include a brief statement describing your target audience, frequency of newsletter, distribution numbers, and any applicable feedback received on the publication.
P2. College/Alumni Magazine, Printed | Submit issue of the college or alumni magazine. Include a brief statement describing your target audience, frequency of magazine, distribution numbers, and any applicable feedback received on the publication. (NOTE: Annual reports, even in magazine format, should be submitted in the Reports category; alumni newsletters should be submitted in the Newsletter category.) Along with digital submission, all entrants in this category must send printed copies to the awards coordinator.
P3. Reports, Printed | Submit one copy of an annual, biannual, or other report published on a regular basis. The report does not have to include financial information, but should be a report on the state of the college. Include a brief statement describing your target audience, frequency of report, distribution numbers, and any applicable feedback received on the publication. Along with digital submission, all entrants in this category must send printed copies to the awards coordinator.
P4. College Viewbook | Submit one copy of the college viewbook used by the college’s admissions office.
P5. Special Publication | Submit one copy of a one-time information piece designed to promote a single program or activity. Include a brief statement describing your target audience, frequency of publication, distribution numbers, and any applicable feedback received on the publication.
P6. Brochure/Flier | Submit one copy of a brochure designed to market education or programs. Include a brief description of the intended audience and cost of production.
P7. Poster | Submit one copy of a poster. Include a brief description of the intended audience and cost of production.
P8. Postcard/Invitation | Submit one copy of a postcard or invitation used to promote an event or program. Include a brief description of the intended audience and cost of production.
P9. Spot Photography | Unstaged photos taken to document day-to-day news. Submit a black-and-white or color photograph, along with proof of publication or other evidence of use. One photo per entry.
P10. Feature Photography | Staged photos taken for illustrative purposes. Submit a black-and-white or color photograph, along with proof of publication or other evidence of use. One photo per entry.
P11. Sports Photography | Unstaged photos taken at sporting events. Submit a black-and-white or color photograph, along with proof of publication or other evidence of use. One photo per entry.
P12. Illustration | Original illustration in any media used as the primary artwork for a publication. Submit the illustration, explanation of the process and media used, and proof of publication or other evidence of use. One illustration per entry.
P13. Low-Budget Publication | The main consideration in this category is the efficient and innovative use of limited resources. You can define what “low budget” means, but you must include a statement as to why you consider your entry to fit into this category.
P14. Logo/Graphic Identity | New college or university brand or logo. This can be for the entire institution, a department, a subunit, or a large, multi-year initiative.
Electronic & Digital Media
E1. Newsletter, Electronic | Submit any two consecutive issues of a regularly produced electronic newsletter. Provide URL. Include a brief statement describing your target audience, frequency of newsletter, distribution numbers, and any applicable feedback received on the publication.
E3. Social Media | Entries should include a brief statement explaining your use of social media for a specific purpose. Describe your target audience, your goals, and the outcomes.
E4. University Website, Overall | This category is for the overall university website. Submit the URL for your college or university website. Include a brief statement describing your strategies on the design and any metrics that demonstrate the website’s success.
E5. University-Related Web Page or Site | This category is for a single university-related website or page (for example, a radio station or a specific program). Submit the URL for the university/college-related website. Include a brief statement describing your strategies on the design and any metrics that demonstrate the website’s success.
E6. Radio/TV Show or Newscast | Submit a radio or television show or newscast developed by your college. Provide URL(s) to the newscast. Specify if an outside agency assisted in the production.
E7. College Promotional Video | Submit a promotional video developed by your college. Provide a URL to the video. Specify if an outside agency assisted in the production.
E8. News/Feature Video
E9. Podcast
Overall Promotional Campaign
OP1. Overall Promotional Campaign | Entry should be a major communication campaign designed to promote education or specific programs for an extended period of time. Submit elements of the promotion, including posters, radio and television spots, brochures, newspaper ads, and press clippings. Include a list of all files uploaded.